Miami football losing Jalen Harrell to transfer portal was inevitable

Defensive back Jalen Harrell entered the transfer portal. Harrell is the fifth Miami football player in just over a week to announce his intention to transfer. The decision by Harrell seemed inevitable with limited playing time in his Miami career. Harrell appeared in seven games from 2020-2021 with four tackles.

Harrell did not have any appearances this season. Miami signed Harrell out of Champagnat Catholic in the class of 2020 as the 233rd player, 23rd safety and 36th player in Florida. The five recent transfers by Miami are expected to begin an exodus of Hurricanes into the portal with the potential for the season to end on Saturday.

Four of the five Miami players to enter the transfer portal have been on defense. Defensive back Gilbert Frierson, defensive linemen Allan Haye and Elijah Roberts and running back Thad Franklin all previously announced they would be entering the transfer portal. Expect the Miami staff to be active in the portal during the offseason.

Harrell was initially committed to Florida State before flipping to Miami in November 2019. After initially signing with Miami as a safety, Harrell was switched to cornerback during the 2021 season before returning to his initial position. Safety is one of the deepest positions on the Miami football roster.

Kamren Kinchens has become a star for Miami at safety and is the national co-leader with six interceptions. James Williams is the other Miami starting safety and was a five-star signed in the class of 2021. Kinchens and Williams are both sophomores. Avantae Williams is the primary backup safety and a third-year sophomore.

Miami has five remaining scholarship safeties on its roster. Third-year redshirt freshmen Brian Balom and Keshawn Washington are the other two. Markeith Williams signed was the only safety Miami signed in the class of 2022, but is listed more generically as a defensive back on the official Hurricanes’ roster.